qs-(f 


LOGAN  I.nSEUM 
BELOIT  COLLEG-E 


Field  Columbian  Museum 

Publication  56. 

Anthropological  Series.  Vol.  II,  No.  5. 


ARCH^OLOGICAL 

INVESTIGATIONS  on  the  ISLAND 

OF  LA  PLATA,  ECUADOR. 


BY 


George  A.  Dorsey, 
Curator,   Department  of  Anthropology. 


Chicago,  U.  S.  A. 
April,    igoi. 


W^f 


i 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    WUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    XL!M. 


Ceremonial  Stone  Axe. 


Field  Columbian  Museum 

Publication  56. 

Anthropological  Series.  Vol.  II,  No.  5. 


ARCH^OLOGICAL 

INVESTIGATIONS  on  the  ISLAND 

OF  LA  PLATA,  ECUADOR. 


BY 


George  A.  Dorsey, 

Curator,   Department  of  Anthropology. 


Chicago,  U.  S.  A. 

April,    1901, 


r^^ 


V 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Introduction,          ----.....  251 

The  journey  to  the  island,      -------  253 

Geographical  position  and  physical  character  of  the  island,              -             -  253 

I.     GRAVES,            ---.....  254 

Character  of  the  earth  excavated,    -----  255 

The  grave  and  its  contents,        -----  255 

Images  of  gold  and  silver,     ------  255 

Image  of  bronze,  -------  257 

Gold  cup,        --------  21:7 

Pendants,  topos  and  other  objects  of  copper  and  gold,            -  258 

Pottery,             --------  258 

Ceremonial  stone  axe,       ------  250 

II.     REFUSE  HEAPS  OF  THE  PLATEAU,         -            -            -            -  260 
Stone. 

Rectangular  and  circular  engraved  stones,       -             -             -  261 

Rectangular  stones  without  ornamentation,            -            -             -  263 

Circular  stones  without  ornamentation,              -             -             -  263 

Cylindrical-shaped  stones  not  perforated,  -             -             -  263 

Perforated  and  engraved  stones,            -            -            -            -  264 

Perforated  stone  beads,         ----._  ^g. 

Engraved  stones  representing  the  human  face,            -             -  265 

Fragmentary  masses  and  worked  beads  of  turquoise,  etc.,          -  266 

Miscellaneous  worked  stones,     -----  266 

Pottery. 

Pottery — general  character,               -             -             -             -             .  266 

Complete  specimens,        ------  267 

Treatment  of  the  head — no  covering,                       -            -            -  268 

Head  decoration:  pyramidal  projections,          -            -            -  260 

Face  bounded  by  broad  projecting  band,                -            -            .  260 

Heads  with  simple  and  undecorated  treatment,           -            -  270 

Grotesque  heads,        -     .        -            -            -            -            .            .  271 

Treatment  of  the  nose,    ------  272 

Treatment  of  the  eyes,           ------  273 

Treatment  of  the  upper  extremities,      -            -             -             -  273 

Treatment  of  the  lower  extremities,            -            -            .            -  274 

Objects  found  in  the  hands  of  the  images,         -             -            -  27c 

Serpent  head-dresses,            ------  276 

Animal  forms,       -------  277 

Bird  forms,     ------..  277 

Miscellaneous  objects  of  pottery,           -            -            -  -,yy 

General  observations  concerning  the  pottery,        -  278 
General  conclusions,         -----             _ 


279 


247 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Plate. 

XL.     Gold  and  silver  images. 
XLI.     Images  of  gold,  stone  and  bronze. 
XLII.     Earthenware  vessel  from  grave. 
XLIII.     Ceremonial  stone  axe. 
XLIV.     Squared  incised  stones. 
XLV.     Squared  incised  stones. 
XLVI.     Squared  incised  stones. 
XLVII.     Circular  incised  stones. 
XLVIII.     Squared  incised  stones. 
XLIX.     Squared  incised  stones. 

L.     Squared  stones  with  incised  edges. 
LI.     Circular  incised  stones. 

LI  I.     Rectangular  stones  without  ornamentation. 
LIII.     Oblong  stones  without  ornamentation. 
LIV.     Circular  stones  without  ornamentation. 
LV.     Circular  perforated  stones. 
LVI.     Cylindrical-shaped  stones. 
L\'II.     Perforated  and  engraved  stones. 
LVIII.     Fragments  of  perforated  and  engraved  stones. 
LIX.     Perforated  stone  beads. 
LX.     Perforated  stone  beads. 
LXI.     Engraved  stones  representing  the  human  face. 
LXII.     Rough  mass  of  serpentine. 
LXIII.     Rough  mass  of  green  marble. 
LXIV.     Beads  of  pagodite  and  turquoise. 

LXV.     Beads  of  lapis  lazuli. 
LXVI.     Beads  of  agalmatolite. 

LXVII.    a,  Small  stone  animal;  d,  cone-shaped  stone. 
LXVIII.     Fragment  of  stone  metate. 
LXIX.     Two  earthenware  images,  front  view. 
LXX.     Two  earthenware  images,  side  view. 
LXXI.     Image— no  head  covering. 
LXXII.     Head  of  image,  pyramidal  projections. 
LXXIII.     Head  and  body  of  image,  pyramidal  projections. 
LXXIW     Head  of  image. 
LXXV.     Heads  of  images,  faces  bounded  by  broad  bands. 
LXX\"I.     Heads  of  images,  faces  bounded  by  broad  bands. 
LXXVII.     Head  of  image,  ear  ornamentation. 
LXXVIII.     Heads  of  images,  simple  treatment  of  head-dress. 
LXXIX.     Heads  of  images,  simple  treatment  of  head-dress. 
LXXX.     Heads  of  images,  simple  treatment  of  head-dress. 
LXXXI.     Portion  of  female  figure  holding  club. 
LXXXII.     Grotesque  heads. 

248 


Plate. 

LXXXIII. 

LXXXIV. 

LXXXV. 

LXXXVI. 

LXXXVII. 

LXXXVIII. 

LXXXIX. 

XC. 

XCI. 

XCII. 

XCIII. 

XCIV. 

xcv. 

XCVI. 

XCVII, 

XCVIII. 

XCIX. 

c. 

CI. 
CII. 

Figure. 
37- 
38. 
39- 
40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 
44. 

45- 
46. 


Illustrations. 

Grotesque  heads. 

Fragments  of  vessels. 

Fragments  showing  treatment  of  the  nose. 

Specimens  showing  treatment  of  the  nose. 

Fragments  of  images  showing  treatment  of  the  eyes. 

Specimens  showing  treatment  of  the  upper  extremities. 

Specimens  showing  treatment  of  the  lower  extremities. 

Specimens  showing  treatment  of  the  lower  extremities. 

Fragment  of  large  image  showing  female  breast. 

Images  with  a  bird  resting  on  the  arm. 

Fragments  with  arms  holding  small  jars. 

Fragments  with  arms  holding  small  images. 

Small  images. 

Fragment  of  image  showing  serpent  head-dress. 

Fragments  of  heads  bearing  conventionalized  serpents'  heads. 

Fragments  of  bodies  bearing  conventionalized  serpents'  heads. 

Fragments  bearing  conventionalized  serpents'  heads. 

Fragments  representing  conventionalized  quadrupeds. 

Bird  forms. 

Miscellaneous  objects  of  pottery. 

Outline  map  of  La  Plata  island,  drawn  from  a  sketch. 

Map  of  portion  of  island  explored. 

Idealized  view  of  vertical  section  of  excavations  in  the  triangle. 

Gold  cup. 

Earthenware  vessel  from  grave. 

Outline  drawing  of  ceremonial  stone  axe  (full  size). 

Representative  squared  and  circular  engraved  stones. 

Perforated  and  engraved  stone. 

Engraved  stone  representing  the  human  face. 

Earthenware  image  showing  position  of  whistles. 


249 


INTRODUCTION. 


While  on  an  exploring  expedition  in  South  America  in  1891-92, 
on  behalf  of  the  Department  of  Ethnology  of  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition,  I  learned  of  a  rich  find  which  had  recently  been  made  at 
La  Plata  Island,  Ecuador.  Having  concluded  my  explorations  in 
Peru  I  set  out  for  Guayaquil.  There  I  met  General  Manuel  Flores, 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Ecuadorian  army,  who  had  made  a  partial 
exploration  of  the  island.  He  had  discovered  by  chance,  through 
the  agency  of  a  lighthouse  keeper,  one  grave  that  had  yielded 
about  twenty-five  ounces  of  gold  ornaments  and  utensils  which  had, 
most  unfortunately  for  science,  been  converted  into  bullion.  He  had 
also  made  a  second  exploration  but  without  success.  So  firmly  con- 
vinced, however,  was  he  that  a  rich  deposit  of  gold  was  to  be  found 
on  the  island,  that  he  very  readily  consented  to  assist  me  in  making  a 
visit  to  the  island,  it  being  understood  that  for  his  share  of  the  equip- 
ment General  Flores  was  to  receive  currency  to  the  amount  of  one- 
half  the  commercial  value  of  whatever  gold  or  silver  might  be  found. 
The  expedition  consisted  of  ten  soldiers  of  the  Ecuadorian  army, 
who  were  to  do  the  excavating,  and  Thomas  McKinley,  my  assistant. 
The  government  gun-boat  Tungarauhua,  under  command  of  Captain 
Romero,  was  placed  at  my  disposition. 

I  wish  to  take  this,  my  earliest  opportunity,  to  make  public 
acknowledgment  of  my  indebtedness  to  General  Flores  and  to  Cap- 
tain Romero  for  their  uniform  courtesy,  and  for  their  many  expressions 
of  sympathy  with  the  aims  of  my  expedition. 

All  of  the  material  referred  to  in  this  paper  is  on  exhibition  in  the 
Field  Columbian   Museum. 


251 


ARCH/tOLOGICAL  INVESTIGATIONS  ON  THE 
ISLAND  OF  LA   PLATA,   ECUADOR. 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  THE  ISLAND. 


Having  taken  supplies  to  last  for  a  period  of  two  weeks,  we  left 
Guayaquil  on  the  morning  of  July  17,  1892,  and  after  an  interval  of 
three  hours  we  had  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Guayaquil  river, 
where  we  turned  abruptly  to  the  north  and  skirted  the  coast  during 
the  entire  day,  arriving  at  the  island  late  in  the  evening.  A  small 
natural  bay  is  to  be  found  on  the  shore  side  of  the  island  where  we 
dropped  anchor  and  remained  for  sixteen  days.  During  this  time  we 
ate  and  slept  on  board  the  boat,  making  two  trips  ashore  each  day  in 
a  small  rowboat.  Owing  to  the  innumerable  varieties  of  water  fowl 
which  invaded  the  island,  and  the  great  number  of  fish  which  were  to 
be  found  on  every  side  of  us,  we  were  never  at  a  loss  for  sources  of 
amusement,  and  in  many  ways  the  visit  was  one  of  the  most  delight- 
ful of  my  sojourn  in  South  America. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  POSITION  AND  PHYSICAL  CHARACTER 
OF  THE  ISLAND. 


The  island  lies  about  thirty  miles  from  the  coast  of  Ecuador  and 
is  just  south  of  the  equator.  It  is  about  one  mile  and  one-fourth  in 
length  and  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide,  having  a  general 
rectangular  shape.  As  has  been  noted,  there  is  a  well  defined  bay  on 
the  east  side  of  the  island  (see  Fig.  37).  Nearly  the  entire  remain- 
ing shore  line  is  steep  and  precipitous,  and  on  the  entire  southern 
extremity  rocky.  The  general  surface  of  the  island  is  that  of  an  un- 
dulating plateau  rising  about  one  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.  The  vegetation,  owing  to  the  scanty  rainfall,  is  entirely  con- 
fined to  thick,  scrubby  underbrush  and  numerous  varieties  of  large 
cacti.  The  island  is  infested  with  mnumerable  rats,  while  snakes  of 
considerable  size  are  not  uncommon.  A  herd  of  some  thirty  or  forty 
wild  cattle  exists  on  the  island  and  was  seen  two  or  three  times  b}^ 
my  assistant,  but  although  I  made  numerous  excursions  from  one  end 
of  the  island  to  the  other  I  was  unable  to  see  them.      The   extreme 

253 


254         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,   Vol.   II. 

southern  corner  of  the  island,  to  the  extent  of  several  acres,  is  en- 
tirel}'  destitute  of  vegetation  and  furnishes  a  vast  breeding  ground  for 
pelicans  which  resort  here  in  large  numbers.  The  island  has  been 
uninhabited  during  historic  times,  except  that  since  1889  a  lighthouse 
keeper  has  been  stationed  there.  Points  of  archaeological  interest 
were  found  in  two  places,  which  from  their  character  are  of  entirely 
different  origin  and  must  be  treated  separately  (see  Fig.  38).  I.  A  num- 
ber of  graves  were  found  near  the  sea  and  just  back  from  the 
bay.  II.  On  the  plateau  above  this  lowland  were  found  several 
heaps  of  potsherds,  squared  stones,  etc. 


1.     GRAVES. 


The  lowland  just  mentioned  is  formed  from  a  deposit  brought  down 
from  two  ravines  which  extend  back  toward  the  center  of  the  island. 
In  the  triangle  thus  formed  were  made  the  principal  excavations  and 
rt  was  here  that  the  gold  and  silver  objects  were  found  which  so 
excited  the  interest  of  General  Flores.  The  work  of  excavation  had 
been  chiefly  done  by  the  lighthouse  keeper,  a  Jamaican  negro. 
Although  he  was  still  on  the  island,  he  proved  to  be  of  little  assist- 
ance to  me  in  pointing  out  the  localities  from  which  material  found 
up  to  that  time  had  been  taken.  After  much  hesitation  on  his  part, 
I  finally  located  six  holes  which  had  been  excavated.  As  near  as  I 
could  find  out,  from  the  first  one  they  took  twenty  or  thirty  ounces 
of  gold  and  several  pieces  of  pottery.  In  the  second  excavation  were 
found  two  images,  one  gold  the  other  silver;  in  the  third,  fourth  and 
fifth  holes  nothing  was  found;  in  the  sixth  hole  a  large  stone  axe  was 
encountered.  At  what  depth  these  objects  had  been  found,  or  in 
what  position,  I  was  unable  to  learn,  so  contradictory  were  the  state- 
ments of  the  Jamaican.  Thinking  that  there  might  be  additional  graves 
in  this  triangle,  I  decided  to  begin  excavating  at  its  apex  and  con- 
tinue the  work  back  to  the  base  of  the  triangle.  Naturally,  as  we 
proceeded  back  from  the  apex  the  excavated  wall  grew  constantly 
deeper,  so  that,  although  it  was  but  two  feet  deep  at  the  begin- 
ning of  operations,  by  the  time  we  had  concluded  our  base  line 
was  twenty-two  feet  deep.  Inasmuch  as  the  general  nature  of 
the  earth  thus  excavated  was  usually  the  same  throughout,  one 
description  may  suffice  for  the  entire  area  of  the  work  and  for  this 
purpose  we  may  consider  the  character  of  the  final  twenty-two- 
foot  section. 


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v\V\>'// 


CROSS  SECTION     D— E. 


C 


April,  1901.       The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsev.  255 

CHARACTER  OF  THE  EARTH  EXCAVATED. 


The  earth  (see  Fig.  39)  to  a  depth  of  a  foot  or  more  was  of  a 
pinkish  color  and  contained  much  charcoal.  About  nine  feet  beneath 
this  was  found  a  compressed  stratum  of  charcoal  and  ashes  one  foot 
thick.  This  rested  on  a  bed  of  pure  ashes  about  two  feet  thick; 
eight  feet  below  this  was  encountered  another  and  thicker  bed  of 
pure  ashes.  In  the  intervening  portions  were  found  stratified  layers 
of  sand  and  gravel.  In  this  sand  and  gravel  were  found  many  curi- 
ous fragments  of  pottery  which  seem  to  have  been  originally  in  the 
form  of  images  and  idols.  Besides  potsherds,  numerous  squared 
and  rectangular  stones  of  different  sizes  and  shapes  were  encountered. 
All  this  material  was,  I  believe,  brought  down  from  the  highlands 
above,  for  we  discovered  several  refuse  heaps  on  the  summit  of  the 
plateau  in  which  we  found  the  same  class  of  stones  and  pottery  as 
below. 

THE  GRAVE   AND  ITS  CONTENTS. 


Near  the  center  of  the  triangle  and  just  above  the  lower  bed  of 
ashes  was  found  a  grave  with  the  fragments  of  two  skeletons,  but  in 
such  poor  state  of  preservation  that  no  portion  of  them  could  be 
saved.  With  the  skeletons  were  found  several  earthenware  vessels, 
images  of  gold  and  silver,  small  gold  pins  and  beads,  several  copper 
pins  and  a  large  stone  axe.  The  grave  was  apparently  an  intrusive 
burial  and  sustained  no  relation  either  to  the  beds  of  ashes  or  to  the 
stones  and  potsherds  found  elsewhere  promiscuously.  The  otherobjects 
found  in  the  grave  consisted  of  three  images  of  gold,  one  of  silver  and 
one  of  copper,  copper  bells,  several  earthenware  vessels  and  a  very 
remarkable  stone  axe.  All  this  material  is  unlike  that  of  the  coast 
tribes  of  Ecuador  or  the  Yuncas  of  Peru  but  closely  resembles  that 
found  in  Quichua  territory  throughout  the  highlands  of  Ecuador  and 
Peru.  It  is  thus  quite  clear  that  we  have  here  two  distinct  kinds  of 
material  which,  as  seems  highly  probable,  are  the  results  of  two 
periods  of  occupancy.  I  shall  first  describe  the  material  from  the 
graves.  These,  I  believe,  were  of  comparatively  recent  origin  and 
their  presence  is,  I  think,  to  be  regarded  as  accidental. 

GOLD  AND  SILVER  IMAGES. 


The  gold  and  silver   images   are   of    the   usual   form  such  as  are 
found  in  the  highlands   of   Peru   and   Ecuador.      The  largest    image 


256         Field  Columhian  Museum — Anthropology,   Vol,   II. 

(  PI.  XL,  Fig.  i>)is  oi  silver  and  measures  six  and  one-quarter  inches 
in  length,  and  one  and  one-half  inches  in  breadth.  This  image  is  almost 
matched  in  size  by  one  of  gold  (PI.  XL,  Fig.  a),  there  being  less 
than  one-half  an  inch  difference  in  length.  The  smaller  gold  image 
(  PI.  XLI,  Fig.  a)  measures  three  and  three-quarters  inches  in  length. 
It  requires  only  a  superficial  examination  of  all  four  images  to  dis- 
close the  identity  of  the  design.  In  physiognomy,  methods  of  dress- 
ing the  hair,  and  general  proportions,  the  specimens  are  all  alike;  in 
all  likewise  the  sex  is  represented  as  that  of  the  female.  The  hair 
is  parted  in  a  straight  line  from  the  middle  of  the  forehead  to  the 
crown  of  the  head  and  is  loosely  gathered  about  half  way  down  the 
back  by  means  of  a  curious  device,  the  nature  of  which  I  have  not  yet 
determined.  It  is  interesting  to  note  also  that  in  all  the  specimens  the 
head  is  molded  after  the  antero-posterior  deformity  which  was  prac- 
ticed throughout  the  interior  of  Peru.  It  is  also  interesting  to  note 
the  perfect  agreement  in  design  between  the  images  from  La  Plata 
and  those  of  the  Cuzco  Valley,  Peru  (see  PI.  XLI,  Fig.  l>). 

To  determine  the  method  of  manufacture  of  these  images  has 
not  been  an  easy  matter;  nor  am  I  now  sure  that  I  have  reached  the 
correct  solution  of  the  problem.  The  silver  and  the  two  gold  images 
are  hollow,  while  the  copper  image  (see  PI.  XLI,  Fig.  if)  is  solid  and  is 
without  doubt  a  cast.  Close  examination  of  the  hollow  images  does 
not  reveal  a  seam  of  any  sort  except  on  the  inside  of  the  legs  and  from 
the  junction  of  these  two  seams  up  to  where  it  is  concealed  under  the 
superimposed  hair.  The  back  seam  is  generally  invisible  throughout 
and  requires  the  closest  scrutiny  to  make  it  out.  The  back  hair, 
covering  head  and  back,  was  fashioned  in  a  single  piece  and  has  been 
very  skillfully  and  neatly  applied  to  the  head  and  back.  That  the 
images  themselves  were  hammered  into  shape  over  some  form  seems 
to  me  to  admit  of  no  doubt  and  in  Fig.  c  of  PI.  XLI  I  believe  we 
have  such  a  form.  This  little  image  is  of  stalagmite  and  although  it 
shows  the  effect  of  fire,  still  portrays  the  same  cast  of  features  which 
we  find  in  the  metal  images.  It  is  also  to  be  noted  that  there  has 
been  no  attempt  in  this  stone  image  to  represent  the  hair;  on  the 
other  hand  the  head  is  of  such  shape  as  would  be  that  of  the  other 
images  without  the  hair  ornament.  It  seems  that  a  sheet  of  gold  was 
hammered  around  the  stone  form  until  it  was  entirely  covered,  the 
seam  extending  from  the  crown  of  the  head  back  to  the  crotch  and 
so  down  and  inside  of  each  leg.  The  sheet  was  then  slightly  opened 
and  the  overlapping  seams  were  hammered  by  abrasion  together. 
Here  and  there  small  pieces  of  the  metal  were  applied  by  means  of  heat 
to  give  the  seam  a  smoother  finish.     The  legs  terminate  in  the  form 


April,  1901.        The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  257 

of  round  hollow  tubes.  To  the  ends  were  fastened  sheets  of  gold  cut 
in  the  shape  of  the  foot,  the  toes  being  indicated  simply  by  means  of 
narrow  grooves  impressed  in  the  sheet.  The  head  covering,  repre- 
senting the  parted  and  braided  hair,  is  firmly  fastened  to  the  head  by 
means  of  four  pairs  of  most  skillfully  concealed  and  ingeniously 
applied  rivets.  The  first  pair  are  over  the  eyes,  the  third  pair  on  a 
line  with  the  shoulders  and  the  last  pair  are  under  the  broad  object 
fastened  to  the  end  of  the  hair.  The  rivets  are  spines  projecting  from 
the  inner  side  of  the  head  covering  and  enter  holes  at  the  points 
mentioned  in  the  body  of  the  image  where  they  have  been  riveted 
from  the  inside.  The  reason  for  making  the  head  ornament  in  a 
separate  piece  lies,  I  think,  in  this  manner  of  its  application  to  the 
figure.  It  gives  added  strength  to  the  head  and  especially  it  binds 
together  and  so  strengthens  the  bod}'  seam  in  a  manner  which  could 
not  be  readily  accomplished  in  any  other  manner.  Furthermore  this 
method  of  applying  the  hair  certainly  gives  it  a  more  realistic 
appearance  than  it  would  have  otherwise. 

As  for  the  composition  of  the  metals  of  which  the  images  are 
made,  I  cannot  offer  detailed  results.  Qualitative  analysis  has  been 
made,  however,  of  the  two  gold  and  of  the  copper  image.  The  silver 
image  (not  analyzed)  is  much  corroded  and  is  apparentl}-  pure  silver. 
The  two  gold  images  prove  to  be  alloys  of  about  12-karat  fine,  the 
percents  roughly  estimated  being  gold  50,  silver  30  and  copper  20. 


IMAGE  OF  BRONZE. 


The  copper  figure  proves  equally  interesting,  for  it  contains  3 
per  cent  of  tin,  and  7  per  cent  of  iron,  and  so  cannot  be  native 
copper,  but  a  low  grade  bronze. 


GOLD  CUP. 


The  sixth  specimen  from  the  grave  to  be  described  is  a  gold  cup 
(Fig.  40).  This  measures  five  inches  in  diameter  and  is  almost  three 
inches  in  height.  It  is  regular  in  form  and  of  very  graceful  outline. 
A  chemical  analysis  of  a  fragment  shows  no  trace  of  either  silver  or 
copper,  and  it  seems  probable  that  it  was  hammered  out  of  a  nugget 
of  pure  gold.  On  the  side  near  the  rim  are  two  holes  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  apart,  made  by  some  awl-like  instrument  by  pressure  from 
without. 


258  FlKLD    COLLMBIAN    MuSFAM ANTHROPOLOGY,     VOL.     II. 

PENDANTS.  TOPOS   AND   OTHER   OBJECTS   OF  COPPER 

AND   GOLD. 


A  number  of  copper  pendants  were  also  found  which  are  of  in- 
terest owing  to  their  resemblance  to  the  type  so  common  in  the  high- 
lands of  Ecuador  and  Peru.  They  average  from  three-quarters  to  an 
inch  in  length  and  are  bell-shaped,  being  perforated  near  the  upper 
end  for  suspension.  With  these  pendants  was  found  a  similarly  sized 
object  of  copper  shaped  like  a  vase,  with  rounded  bottom,  bulging  rim 
and  long  and  but  slightly  constricted  neck.  At  opposite  sides  are 
handles.  This  vessel  is  too  tiny  to  be  of  any  real  use  and  probably 
served  as  an  ornament. 

The  usual  number  of  metallic  pins  were  found,  and  they  differ  in 
no  manner  from  the  t3pical  specimens  so  common  in  Peruvian 
graves.  Of  the  large  copper  specimens  there  were  eight,  with  frag- 
ments of  several  others.  These  measure  from  six  to  ten  inches  in 
length  and  are  of  tw^o  types,  one  having  a  large,  flat,  nearly  cylin- 
drical head,  the  other  having  a  head  much  smaller,  thicker  and  more 
nearly  semi-circular.  Of  the  small  pins  there  are  four,  two  of  pure 
gold  afid  two  of  silver;  they  are  all  less  than  two  inches  in  length  and 
have  the  flat  head  perforated. 


POTTERY. 


There  were  twelve  entire  pieces  of  pottery  in  the  grave.  The 
piece  of  the  greatest  interest  is  represented  in  Fig.  41.  It  is  six 
inches  in  height  and  is  painted  a  dull  grayish  color.  In  shape  it 
resembles  the  typical  Cuzco  form  inverted,  and  is  a  unique  specimen, 
I  believe,  for  South  America.  A  gradually  contracting  globular 
body,  terminating  in  a  broad  mouth  with  narrow  recurved  lip,  rests 
on  a  graceful  pedestal  which  in  form  is  simply  the  neck  of  the  ordi- 
nary Cuzco  vase.  On  one  side  is  a  handle  fashioned  from  a  thin 
band  of  clay,  while  on  the  opposite  side  is  a  letter  Y  in  relief.  A 
further  peculiarity  of  the  vessel  is  the  fact  that  it  is  provided  with  a 
flat,  well-fitting  cover  which  has  a  handle. 

Second  only  in  interest  to  the  specimen  described  are  two  vases 
almost  alike  in  form,  one  of  which  is  figured  in  PI.  XLII.  This 
specimen  has  nothing  to  distinguish  it  from  hundreds  of  such  speci- 
mens in  the  museum  from  the  vicinity  of  Cuzco,  and  I  may  add  that, 
according  to  my  estimation,  no  more  beautiful  pottery  has  been  found 
in  America  than  this  same  graceful  Cuzco  type.      It  is  characterized 


Fig.  41.     Earthenware  Vessel  from  Grave. 


o 


April,  1901.       The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  259 

by  a  pointed  base,  delicate  neck,  broadly  turned  mouth  and  large, 
gradually  contracting  body.  Near  the  lower  portion  of  the  body  of 
the  vessel  and  on  opposite  sides  are  two  handles,  by  means  of 
thongs  through  which  the  vessel  was  carried.  The  decoration  is 
typical  and  characteristic.  The  neck  is  encircled  by  white  and  red 
lines  alternately,  while  on  the  body  the  decoration  is  confined  to  one 
side.  Here  we  find  three  parallel  red  lines  extending  from  the  lower 
extremity  of  the  neck  to  the  beginning  of  the  base  ;  these  lines  enclose 
many  short,  black,  horizontal,  parallel  lines  arranged  in  groups  of 
five.  Beyond  the  three  central  red  lines  and  on  each  side  of  them, 
and  bordered  by  additional  red  lines,  just  in  front  of  the  handles,  is  a 
tree  or  plant-like  ornamentation  so  characteristic  of  Cuzco  pottery  of 
this  class.  On  the  middle  red  line,  and  thus  near  the  center  of  the 
vessel,  is  an  equally  characteristic  ornament,  consisting  of  the  highly 
conventionalized  head  of  a  puma  in  bold  relief. 

In  general  shape  the  other  vessel  is  like  the  one  just  described. 
The  side  of  the  vessel,  upon  which  is  a  small  puma  head  in  relief,  and 
the  under  portion  of  the  vessel  have  been  painted  white,  and  upon  this 
is  a  black  line  decoration  of  geometric  figures  which  has  almost 
entirely  disappeared. 

There  are  also  three  small  vessele,  devoid  of  general  interest, 
which  may  have  been  used  as  toys.  Two'  of  them  are  undecorated, 
while  the  third  has  been  painted  red,  upon  which  is  a  decoration  of 
parallel  rows  of  black  triangles.  The  remaining  pieces  of  pottery  are 
dish  or  saucer-like  forms,  three  of  which  have,  as  a  handle,  on  one  side 
a  conventionalized  duck's  head.  These  three  pieces  are  beautifully 
decorated  inside  with  parallel  red  bands.  All  the  pieces  of  pottery 
just  described,  with  the  exception  of  the  piece  first  mentioned,  have 
nothing  to  distinguish  them  from  the  ordinarv  forms  found  over  the 
entire  Quichua  territory. 


CEREMONIAL  STONE  AXE. 


The  remaining  object  to  be  described  from  the  graves  is  probably 
the  most  remarkable  of  all  and  in  many  ways  it  may  be  considered  as 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  stone  implements  ever  found.  In  length 
it  measures  nineteen  and  one-half  inches  and  in  the  broadest  part 
twelve  and  one-half  inches,  while  its  thickness  in  no  part  exceeds 
three-quarters  of  an  inch  (see  Fig.  42).  It  is  made  of  grayish  trach- 
ite,  is  most  beautifully  polished  and  is  in  perfect  condition  except  for 
a  small  indentation  near  the  lower  edge.     It  requires  but  a  superficial 


26o         FiELP  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.    II. 

examination  to  lead  to  the  instant  belief  that  it  never  could  have  been 
put  to  a  utilitarian  purpose,  and  that  it  was  used  ceremonially  there  can 
be,  I  think,  no  doubt.  Near  the  lower  extremity  toward  each  corner, 
and  on  the  corresponding  opposite  sides  (see  PI.  XLIII)  is  an  irregular 
surface  from  two  to  three  inches  in  diameter,  which  has  been  abrased 
by  having  been  struck  many  times  by  some  metallic  or  stone  object. 
These  surfaces,  situated  as  they  are,  have  led  me  to  the  belief  that 
the  axe  was  suspended  by  some  sort  of  thong  and  that  these  abrased 
surfaces  were  produced  b}'  its  being  constantly  struck  to  produce  a 
sound.  Suspending  it  in  the  manner  indicated  and  striking  it  with 
a  copper  pin  it  gives  forth  a  clear  resonant  tone  not  unlike  that  of  a 
bell.  Inasmuch  as  objects  of  a  similar  nature  have  been  used  as  a 
sort  of  gong  or  bell  in  temple  worship  in  different  parts  of  the  world, 
it  may  be  possible  that  the  axe  under  consideration  was  used  in  a 
similar  manner. 


11.  REFUSE  HEAPS  OF  THE  PLATEAU. 


Mention  has  already  been  made  of  squared  and  circular  stones 
and  curious  fragments  of  pottery  which  were  found  during  the  work 
of  excavation  in  the  triangle  near  the  beach.  Inasmuch  as  all  such 
fragments  there  encountered  were  found  in  various  strata  of  drift 
which  had  been  brought  dbwn  from  above,  and  as  no  pieces  of  this 
material  were  found  in  any  of  the  layers  of  ashes,  it  would  be  reason- 
able to  look  to  the  summit  of  the  plateau  for  the  source  of  this 
material.  The  credit  of  finding  the  original  location  of  these  curious 
stones  and  pottery  must  be  given  to  my  assistant,  McKinley,  who 
while  looking  for  cattle  on  the  plateau,  on  the  third  day  after  our 
arrival,  came  unexpectedly  upon  a  large  heap  of  fragments  of  clay 
images.  On  the  following  day  I  examined  that  portion  of  the  plateau 
lying  just  above  and  beyond  the  ravine  and  was  so  fortunate  as  to 
find  additional  heaps  of  this  material.  Whatever  doubt  I  may  have 
had  regarding  the  supposition,  that  the  objects  found  in  the  earth  at 
the  base  of  the  plateau  came  from  above,  was  set  at  rest  by  my  finding 
the  upper  portion  of  a  clay  image  in  one  of  the  refuse  heaps  on  the 
plateau,  the  other  half  of  which  had  been  found  at  a  depth  of  thirteen 
feet  in  the  excavated  triangle.  For  the  purpose  of  convenience  I 
shall  treat  the  material  from  these  two  sources  as  a  single  collection. 


^>^-'^:'-.J-> 


v: 


2: 


Fig.  43,    Representative  Squared  and  Circular  Enqraved  Stones. 


April,  igoi.        The  I,sland  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  261 

RECTANGULAR  AND  CIRCULAR  ENGRAVED  STONES. 


With  equal  frequence  both  in  the  refuse  heaps  on  the  plateau 
and  in  the  drift  earth  at  its  base  were  large  numbers  of  engraved 
rectangular  and  circular  stones. 

The  stone  used  for  all  of  the  squared  and  rectangular  blocks 
and  for  a  few  other  forms  which  were  encountered  is  a  volcanic  tuff, 
grayish  white  in  color.  The  stones  were  probably  brought  to  their  pres- 
ent condition  by  the  grinding  or  rubbing  process.  The  incised  lines 
were  probably  made  with  some  sharp  instrument  and  they  are  extraordi- 
narily clean  cut.  In  fact  when  one  first  examines  one  of  these  lines, 
so  clean  is  it,  there  is  such  a  total  absence  of  the  scratchings  which 
would  have  resulted  had  the  line  been  laboriously  incised,  one  is 
tempted  to  believe  that  the  specimens  were  made  of  clay  and  that  the 
lines  were  engraved  while  the  clay  was  wet.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is 
probable  that  when  the  rock  was  first  quarried  it  was  much  softer 
than  it  is  now,  and  that  the  clean  cut  lines,  such  as  I  have  described, 
were  made  with  a   single   stroke  of  some  sharp-pointed   instrument. 

The  largest  stone  measures  five  inches  in  length  and  breadth  by 
two  and  one-half  in  thickness,  while  the  smallest  measures  four  inches 
by  four  by  three  and  one-half.  Of  the  circular  specimens  the  largest 
one  measures  five  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter  by  two  inches  in 
thickness,  while  the  smallest  one  measures  four  and  one-half  in  diam- 
eter by  three  inches  in  thickness.  All  of  these  stones  (see  Fig.  43) 
are  engraved  on  one  side  only.  This  takes  the  form  of  two  pairs  of 
parallel  lines  extending,  in  the  squared  stones,  diagonally  across, 
crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.  The  intervening  space  between 
the  parallel  lines  varies  in  one  specimen  from  one  and  one-fourth 
inches  to  one-half  an  inch  in  the  smallest.  In  every  specimen  found 
the  space  formed  by  the  parallel  lines  is  occupied  either  by  a  series  of 
circles  (see  PI.  XLIV  ),  or  by  a  series  of  zigzag  lines,  or,  in  one 
specimen,  by  both  (see  PI.  XLV).  In  one  instance  the  parallel  lines 
were  three  in  number,crossing  as  usual  at  right  angles  (PI.  XLVI, 
b),  while  in  still  another  specimen  the  parallel  lines  were  four  in 
number  ( PI.  XLV,  b).  In  all  of  the  specimens  except  three  the 
space  lying  outside  of  the  parallel  lines  was  left  vacant.  In  the  three 
specimens  where  this  was  not  the  case,  the  space  was  occupied  by 
one  circle  in  one  instance  (PI.  XLV,  a),  three  circles  in  another 
(PI.  XLVII,  a)  and  by  four  in  the  third  specimen  (PI.  XLVII,  b). 
The  number  of  circles  or  triangles  found  within  the  parallel  lines  varies 
(see  PI.  XLVIII )   from  two   to  five,  four  being  the  most  common. 


262         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.   II. 

In  two  of  the  specimens  the  treatment  of  the  region  of  the  crossing 
of  the  parallel  lines,  that  is,  of  the  central  region  of  this  face  of  the 
stone,  is  somewhat  unusual  (see  PI.  XLIX).  In  one,  the  two  lines 
meet  in  a  circle  one  inch  in  diameter,  the  central  portion  of  which 
has  been  slightly  excavated.  In  the  other  specimen  the  lines  are 
bounded  in  the  central  portion  of  the  stone  by  a  raised  circle  which 
itself  is  decorated  with  a  row  of  seven  engraved  circles.  The  treat- 
ment of  this  space  in  the  other  specimens  varies  from  a  single 
specimen,  where  the  square  formed  by  the  crossing  of  the  parallel  lines 
is  devoid  of  marks,  to  another  specimen  where  the  square  is  occupied 
by  an  incised  circle. 

In  no  specimen  is  there  any  marking  on  the  side  opposite  the 
engraved  surface,  but  in  four  of  the  specimens  (see  PI.  L)  the 
remaining  side  has  received  some  sort  of  treatment.  In  two 
instances  the  surfaces  containfive  parallel  perpendicular  lines  arranged 
in  pairs  at  each  end,  with  a  single  line  in  the  middle,  all  crossed  by 
a  horizontal  incised  line  passing  around  the  stone  at  its  center.  In 
another  specimen  a  horizontal  line  is  carried  around  the  center  of 
four  sides  of  the  stone  extending  down  to  which  is  a  zigzag  line  so 
arranged  as  to  form  three  triangles  on  each  side  of  the  stone.  In  the 
fourth  specimen  each  surface  contains  two  lines  which,  starting  from 
the  upper  corner,  converge  at  the  center  of  the  under  surface  of  the 
stone. 

With  these  stones  must  be  described  a  single  other  specimen 
which  in  its  character  more  nearly  approaches  these  than  any  of  the 
other  material.  This  specimen  (see  PI.  LI,  <7 )  is  circular,  measur- 
ing three  and  three-quarters  inches  in  diameter  and  less  than  one- 
fourth  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  At  diagonally  opposite  sides  notches 
have  been  cut  into  the  stone,  extending  toward  the  center  to  a  depth 
of  one-half  an  inch.  In  each  segment  thus  formed  by  these  notches 
is  an  incised  circle,  the  center  of  which  is  perforated.  The  center  of 
the  stone  is  also  occupied  by  an  engraved  circle  similar  to  the  others, 
which  is  also  perforated.  The  treatment  of  both  sides  of  the  stone 
is  exactly  alike. 

As  for  the  use  of  these  curious  stones,  which  have  been  prepared 
with  much  care,  I  can  form  no  conclusion  which  is  satisfactory,  but 
it  is  pcssible  that  they  were  used  in  some  game  though  this  theory  is 
considerably  weakened  by  the  fact  that  the  number  of  circles  within 
the  parallel  lines  is  not  uniform,  while  the  spaces  outside  the  parallel 
lines  are  in  some  cases  occupied  by  circles,  and  in  other  cases  left 
plain,  while,  finally,  an  entirely  different  category  of  stones,  yet  to  be 
described,  are  found  which  contain  similar  engraved  circles,  but 
which  presumably  could  not  have  been  used  in  any  game. 


April,  1901.        The  Island  of  La   Plata — Dorsev.  263 

RECTANGULAR  STONES  WITHOUT  ORNAMENTATION. 


These  stones  are  of  the  same  material  as  those  in  the  category 
just  described  and  all  have  been  fashioned  with  similar  care  (see  PI. 
LII).  The  largest  one  found  measures  four  and  one-half  inches  in 
breadth  by  five  and  one-half  in  length  and  in  the  center  measures  one 
inch  in  thickness,  the  center  being  slightly  thicker  than  the  ends. 
The  smallest  specimen  of  this  sort  found  measures  one  and  one-half 
inches  by  one  and  one-quarter  inches  in  length  and  breadth  and  is 
one-fourth  of  an  inch  thick.  Between  these  two  extreme  sizes  was 
found  a  complete  intervening  series,  so  that  for  whatever  purpose  the 
smallest  stone  was  used,  that  also  was  probably  the  character  of  the 
largest  of  the  series.  What  this  purpose  was  I  have  no  suggestion  to 
offer.  Closely  related  to  these  rectangular  stones,  and  in  fact  forming 
a  connecting  link  between  them  and  the  series  next  to  be  described, 
was  a  series  of  stones  of  somewhat  the  same  general  type  but  having 
an  elliptif^al  shape  (see  PI.  LIIl  ).  Stones  in  this  series  were  found 
ranging  from  four  inches  in  length  down  to  two  and  one-half. 


CIRCULAR-STONES  WITHOUT  ORNAMENTATION. 

These  stones  (  see  PI.  LIV)  vary  in  diameter  from  four  inches  in 
the  case  of  the  largest  to  one  and  one-half  inches  in  the  smallest. 
The  diameter  in  no  case  ekceeds  one-half  of  an  inch.  The  specimens 
are  generally  slightly  thicker  at  the  center  than  they  are  at  the  sides 
and  all  have  been  prepared  with  care.  An  examination  of  the  edges 
does  not  reveal  any  mark  of  use  and  naturally  owing  to  their  soft- 
ness, like  the  category  previously  described,  they  could  not  have 
served  as  implements.  Two  of  the  disc-shaped  stones,  one  of  which 
was  made  with  unusual  care,  are  perforated  in  the  center  (  see  PI. 
LV  ).  It  might  be  possible  to  consider  these  as  spindle  whorls,  were 
it  not  for  the  fact  that  in  one  of  the  refuse  heaps  two  small  beautifully 
engraved  spindle  whorls  were  found,  which  have  nothing  to  distinguish 
them  from  those  found  throughout  the  west  coast  of  South  America 
from  Ecuador  to  Chili. 


CYLINDRICAL-SHAPED  STONES,    NOT  PERFORATED. 


The    stones    in    this    category  are    rather   uniform    in    size    and 
average  about  three  inches  in  length  by  one  in  diameter  ( PL  LVI  ). 


264         Field  Columbian  MuseUiM — Anthropology,  Vol.   II. 

None  of  them  show  use-marks  of  any  sort  and  only  one  has  been 
handled  sufficiently  to  give  it  any  degree  of  polish  whatever.  None  of 
the  specimens  are  perfectly  true  cylinders,  the  aim  apparently  being 
merely  to  produce  a  general  cylindrical  shape. 

PERFORATED  AND  ENGRAVED  STONES. 


Somewhat  similar  in  size  to  the  cylindrical-shaped  stones  just 
mentioned  is  a  large  series  of  perforated  rectangular  stones  (PI. 
LVII).  These  vary  from  three  and  one-half  to  one  and  one-half 
inches  in  length  and  from  one  to  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness and  breadth.  The  four  long  surfaces  in  all  of  these  stones  have 
been  decorated  with  a  row  of  engraved  circles,  varying  from  three 
inches  in  one  instance  to  six  in  another.  These  circles  have  a  general 
uniform  diameter  which  varies  from  one-quarter  to  one-half  an  inch. 
In  several  of  the  specimens  two  sides,  always  opposite,  have  been  fur- 
ther treated  by  the  addition  of  two  circles  placed  on  either  side  of  the 
row.  In  one  instance  the  supernumerary  circles  are  at  the  end  of  the 
stone,  while  in  another  they  occupy  the  center  (see  Fig.  44).  Like  the 
circles  on  the  upper  side  of  the  stones  described  in  the  first  category, 
all  of  these  have  a  slight  excavation  in  the  center.  None  of  these 
specimens  show  any  sign  whatever  of  usage,  nor  does  a  careful  exam- 
ination of  the  central  perforation  lying  through  the  entire  length  of 
the  stone  reveal  the  slightest  trace  of  a  mark  such  as  would  have  been 
left  by  a  cord,  in  case  the  stones  had  been  suspended. 

Interesting  merely  from  the  standpoint  of  technique  are  four  frag- 
ments of  the  stones,  being  broken  through  the  center,  thus  making  it 
possible  to  determine  the  character  of  the  perforation  throughout  its 
entire  length  (PI.  LVIII).  In  all  of  the  specimens  the  drilling  was 
done  from  both  ends,  the  perforation   meeting  at   or   near  the  center. 

PERFORATED  STONE  BEADS. 


Exactly  similar  in  general  shape  to  the  stones  just  described  is  a 
long  series  of  perforated  stones  which  may  have  been  used  as  beads 
(PI.  LIX).  These  vary  from  cylindrical  to  rectangular  in  shape 
and  are  from  one-half  to  three  and  one-half  inches  in  length. 
Although  these  have  been  spoken  of  as  beads,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
no  trace  whatsoever  of  usage  has  been  found,  and  it  is  not  possible 
to  conceive  of  stones  of  material  so  soft  as  are  these  to  have  been 
worn,  even  for  a  short  period,  without  their  showing  use-marks. 


Fig.  44.     Perforated  and  Engraved  Stone. 


Fig.  45.     Engraved  Stone  Representing  the  Human  Face. 


April,  igoi.        The   Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  265 

Somewhat  similar  in  shape  to  these  perforated  stones  is  a  series 
of  stones  varying  from  two  to  three  inches  in  length,  rectangular  in 
shape,  but  tapering  somewhat  on  each  face  toward  the  end  (  PI.  LX, 
^' /'*")•  These  stones  have  not  been  perforated  from  end  to  end, 
but  instead  there  is  a  hole  extending  from  each  end  toward  the  center 
for  the  extent  of  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  which  is  met  by  a  hole  of  sim- 
ilar size  coming  from  one  of  the  faces  of  the  stone.  In  the  illustra- 
tion is  a  specimen  which  had  been  broken  in  two,  which  makes  plain 
this  manner  of  perforation. 

Additional  bead-like  stones  were  found  (  see  PI.  LX,  a-~d)  all  of 
which  were  perforated  from  side  to  side,  but  on  three  specimens  the 
diameter  along  the  perforation  of  the  stones  is  considerably  less  than 
the  transverse  diameter.  Only  one  of  these  specimens  is  more  or 
less  imperfect. 


ENGRAVED  STONES  REPRESENTING  THE    HUMAN  FACE. 

Among  the  most  interesting  objects  in  stone  found  were  three 
elongated  V-shaped  stones,  the  shortest  one  measuring  four  inches 
in  length,  the  longest  one  five  and  one-half.  These  stones  have  a 
breadth  of  about  one  inch  at  the  base  and  taper  off  toward  the  outside 
edge  in  all  proportions.  Each  one  bears  on  its  edge  a  conventional- 
ized human  face  consisting  of  a  lateral  incision  for  the  mouth  and 
excavations  for  the  eyes.  In  Fig.  a,  PI.  LXI,  two  parallel  lines  start 
at  the  back  of  the  head  and  take  a  downward  direction  meeting  in 
front  below  the  chin ;  while  further  down  on  the  stone  are  two 
additional  parallel  lines  which  begin  at  the  back  and  meet  in  front. 
Just  over  the  eyes  is  a  circular  line  which  begins  at  one  side  of  the 
base  of  the  stone  and  passes  around  to  the  other  side.  On  the  narrow 
crown  of  the  head  are  two  lateral  lines  and  one  median  line;  these 
median  lines  are  crossed  at  regular  intervals  by  eleven  sharp 
incisions.  Fig.  b  resembles  to  a  certain  extent  the  figure  just  described. 
There  is  simply  one  line  on  the  body  of  the  figure  which  bounds  the  face 
and  separates  it  from  the  body  proper.  Around  the  head,  and 
passing  over  the  forehead  from  one  side  to  the  other,  are  two  parallel 
'deep  incisions,  extending  down  into  the  top  of  which  are  a  number  of 
deep  incisions  at  regular  intervals  which  start  just  at  the  top  of  the 
head.  Fig.  c  has  exactly  the  same  markings  as  have  been  noted  for 
Fig.  a.  The  top  of  the  head,  however,  in  this  figure  is  not  sharp  but 
flat  and  is  provided  with  little  incised  lines,  as  has  been  noted  in 
Fig.  b  (see  Fig.  45). 


266         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.    II. 

FRAGMENTARY  MASSES  AND  WORKED  BEADS  OF 
TURQUOISE,  ETC. 

A  number  of  rough  masses  of  turquoise,  sodolite,  serpentine  (see 
PI.  LXII),  gray  marble  (see  PL  LXIII  ),  agalmatolite  and  pagodite 
were  found,  and  in  addition  a  large  number  of  beads  representing 
each  of  these  minerals.  The  majority  of  the  turquoise  beads  had  not 
been  worked.  One,  however,  is  an  irregularly  shaped  mass,  measur- 
ing two  and  one-half  inches  in  length  by  one  and  one-half  in  diameter 
and  drilled  from  end  to  end;  its  surface  has  been  fairly  well  polished 
(see  PI.  LXIV).  Of  lapis  lazuli  no  less  than  twenty-eight  carefully 
finished  cylindrical  beads  were  found  (see  PI.  LXV);  while  of  beads 
of  agalmatolite  there  were  thirty-five  (see  PI.  LXVI ).  The  majority 
of  turquoise  and  lapis  lazuli  specimens  were  found  at  the  base  of  the 
plateau  and  not  in  the  pottery  heaps  of  the  summit  of  the  plateau. 


MISCELLANEOUS  WORKED  STONES. 

Among  the  stones  not  falling  within  any  of  the  categories  men- 
tioned are  three  worthy  of  brief  notice.  Perhaps  of  greatest  interest 
is  a  finely  carved  specimen  representing  some  small  quadruped  (  PI. 
LXVII,  Fig,  a).  This  is  beautifully  polished  and  has  received 
unusual  attention.  The  specimen  measures  two  and  one-quarter 
inches  in  length.  Also  of  interest  is  a  fragment  of  a  stone  metate  (see 
PI  .LXVII I).  This  is  five  inches  in  width  and  in  its  original  condition 
measured  perhaps  a  foot  in  length.  The  fragment  rests  on  two  well 
made  circular  feet,  one  inch  in  length.  The  third  specimen  (see  PI. 
LXVII,  (^)  is  a  cone-shaped  stone,  being  about  two  and  one-half 
inches  in  height.  Just  below  the  apex  is  an  annular  constriction,  for 
what  purpose  it  is  not  known,  as  the  groove  is  not  of  a  depth  to  per- 
mit of  a  cord  having  been  passed  around  it  so  that  it  might  be 
suspended.  The  apex  of  the  cone  is  truncated  and  in  the  center  of 
the  surface  thus  formed  is  a  slight  depression.  The  under  surface  is 
without  marks  of  any  sort. 


POTTERY— GENERAL  CHARACTER. 


In  addition  to  the  innumerable  squared  stones,  etc.,  just  de- 
scribed, the  refuse  heaps  of  the  plateau  yielded  an  immense  amount 
of  pottery.      Practically  all  of  this  pottery  was  in  fragments,  only  two 


April,  1901.        The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  267 

pieces  being  found  in  perfect  condition.  With  the  exception  of  pos- 
sibly not  more  than  a  dozen  pieces,  all  the  fragments  were  parts  of 
small  images  in  the  form  of  human  figures.  The  clay  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  pottery,  while  of  fairly  good  texture,  and  in  manj 
ways  superior  to  that  used  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  mainland  of 
Ecuador,  is  greatly  inferior  to  that  used  by  the  natives  of  Peru  and 
to  that  used  in  the  vessels  which  were  found  in  the  graves  on  the 
lowland  of  the  island  near  the  coast.  From  fragments  representing 
perhaps  a  thousand  images  not  more  than  a  half  dozen  pieces  were 
found  which  bore  any  trace  of  paint;  these  were  painted  red.  The 
pottery  reveals  no  uniform  method  of  firing,  many  of  the  pieces  being 
almost  unburnt.  No  fragment  was  found,  however,  which  had  been 
subjected  to  a  heat  so  intense  as  to  cause  the  particles  of  sand  in  its 
composition  to  vitrify.  All  the  pottery,  with  a  very  few  exceptions, 
is  hand  made:  that  is,  it  was  not  made  in  a  mould,  which  was  com- 
monly employed  on  the  south  mainland  of  Ecuador  and  throughout 
a  large  extent  of  Peru.  In  nearly  all  of  the  pieces,  finger  marks  can 
be  plainly  distinguished  on  the  inside  of  the  images,  which  are 
generally  hollow  and  often  crudely  executed,  there  being,  as  a  rule, 
no  attempt  at  finished  work. 


COMPLETE  SPECIMENS. 


As  has  been  stated,  but  two  specimens  were  found  in  an  intact 
condition  (see  Pis.  LXIX  and  LXX ).  These  are  similar  in  general 
character,  both  representing  a  man  in  a  sitting  posture,  with  the  legs 
extended  in  a  curved  position  in  front  and  the  hands  resting  on  the 
knees.  The  face  has  been  done  with  considerable  detail  and  both 
wear  a  helmet  or  head-dress.  On  neither  of  the  figures  is  there 
represented  any  trace  of  a  garment  or  of  clothing.  Both  figures  have 
about  the  neck  a  cord-like  enlargement,  from  which  depends  an  object 
which  may  represent  a  conventionalized  animal  head. 

The  larger  of  the  two  figures  measures  nearly  eight  inches  in 
height.  In  addition  to  the  features  already  described,  which  it  has 
in  common  with  the  other  figures,  there  are  several  points  worthy  of 
notice.  The  image  as  a  whole  is  rather  rudely  made  and  shows  signs 
of  haste  and  carelessness.  At  the  same  time  the  salient  features  of 
the  human  form  are  characterized  with  striking  boldness.  The  legs 
consist  simply  of  a  hollow  band  of  clay  brought  out  in  the  form  of  a 
circle  in  front  of  the  body.  Resting  on  this  circle  are  conventionalized 
arms,  the  fingers  being  represented  by  three  deep  incisions  made  in 


268         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,   Vol.   II. 

the  soft  clay  near  the  region  where  they  join  the  legs.  Placed  near 
the  center  and  on  top  of  each  arm  is  a  clay  fillet,  each  one  with  four 
deep  incisions  in  the  center  made  with  a  sharp  instrument;  these  may 
represent  arm  bands.  Over  the  head  is  a  cap-shaped  affair  from 
which  projected  two  cone-shaped  masses,  now  broken  off.  Just 
beneath  this  cap  is  a  depression  running  from  back  of  the  ear  up  and 
over  across  the  forehead.  Just  beneath  this  and  above  the  nose  are 
three  small,  raised,  knob-like  protuberances;  these  are  not  unusual. 
The  ears  are  simply  triangular  appendages  of  clay  extended  out  from 
the  face;  into  the  center  of  the  appendage  is  a  deep  incision  which,  as 
may  be  seen  in  other  specimens,  entirely  pierces  the  ear.  Under  the 
nose  there  is  represented  a  large  nose  ornament  which  entirely  fills 
the  space  between  the  upper  lip  and  the  nose.  The  mouth  itself,  as 
in  the  majority  of  the  heads,  is  represented  as  open  and  is  simpl}?^  an 
elliptical-shaped  incision.  The  chin  is  interesting,  inasmuch  as  from 
it  project  two  bits  of  clay  producing  an  effect  not  unlike  that  of  a 
divided  beard. 

The  second  complete  figure  differs  in  no  material  respect  from 
the  one  just  described.  The  head-dress,  instead  of  having  two  pro- 
jections on  the  top  of  the  head,  has  nine.  There  is  only  a  faint  indi- 
cation of  the  ear.  The  eyes  have  the  same  general  treatment  as  in 
the  specimen  just  described,  and  as  they  are  better  shown  in  this  speci- 
men they  may  properly  be  noticed  here.  In  forming  the  eye,  the  maker 
with  his  two  fingers  simply  worked  out  a  slight  protuberance  from  the 
face,  which  was  rounded  off  and  elongated;  into  this,  with  the  sharp 
point  of  some  instrument,  two  elliptical  incisions  were  made,  thus 
giving  the  effect  of  the  eyeball. 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  HEAD— NO  COVERING. 


In  the  specimen  represented  in  PI.  LXXI,  we  have  the  fragment 
of  a  figure  which  must  have  stood  at  least  twelve  or  fourteen  inches 
in  height.  The  treatment  of  the  head  is  quite  different  from  that  of 
the  specimens  just  described.  Instead  of  the  covering  with  the  pro- 
jections, the  head  is  represented  as  the  open  mouth  of  a  vessel.  On 
the  forehead  are  two  protuberances,  while  running  out  from  the  nose 
and  just  over  the  eyes  are  two  ridges.  These  may  represent  a  very 
highly  developed  superciliary  region,  or  perhaps  be  characterizations 
of  tattoo  marks.  The  head  has  been  so  mutilated  that  it  is  not  possible 
to  make  out  the  character  of  the  ears,  but  just  in  front  of  the  place 
where  the  ears  should  be  is,  on  one  side,  a  large  hole,  while  on  the 


April,  igoi.       The  Island  of  La  Plata— Dorsey.  269 

other  side  this  hole  is  occupied  by  a  cup-shaped  affair.  In  one  or 
two  other  specimens  similar  objects  were  found  represented  as  pierc- 
ing the  cheek.  So  far  as  I  know  this  practice  has  not  been  observed 
except  in  very  limited  areas  in  South  America.  The  Chunchos  of  the 
Pangoa  Valley,  Peru,  have  their  cheeks  pierced  in  a  position  similar 
to  that  indicated  in  the  figure  under  discussion,  and  in  these  holes 
they  wear  feather  ornaments. 
t 

HEAD  DECORATIONS;  PYRAMIDAL  PROJECTIONS. 


In  the  specimens  shown  in  PI.  LXXII.we  have  the  same  cup- 
shaped  affair  on  one  side  of  the  head,  while  on  the  other  side  there  is 
half  of  a  hole,  which  probably  originally  contained  an  object  similar 
to  that  on  the  other  side.  In  this  specimen,  however,  the  cup-shaped 
object  passes  through  a  part  of  the  cheek  very  close  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  ear.  In  fact  it  is  possible  that  in  this  specimen  the 
object  was  actually  intended  to  represent  an  ear  ornament.  The  head- 
dress consists  of  twelve  horn-like  projections,  similar  to  those  already 
described,  arranged  in  three  parallel,  horizontal  rows.  The  nose  is 
very  large,  sharp  and  long. 

In  the  specimen  represented  in  Fig.  A,  PI.  LXXIII,  we  have  five 
horn-like  projections  on  the  head,  two  of  which  have  been  broken  off. 
The  face  is  decidedly  dish-shaped.  A  very  large  mouth  is  prolonged 
forward  into  a  decidedly  sharp  chin.  The  entire  face  does  not  termi- 
nate in  the  usual  way,  but  is  prolonged  out  on  all  sides  into  a  con- 
tinuous ribbon-like  band  of  clay.  Two  pellets  of  clay  represent  the 
eyes,  while  at  the  sides  and  slightly  above  the  mouth  on  the  cheek  are 
two  depressions  which  were  made  with  the  point  of  the  little  finger, 
the  nail-marks  being  still  quite  apparent. 

FACE  BOUNDED  BY  BROAD  PROJECTING  BAND. 


In  another  specimen  (PI.  LXXIV)  this  ribbon-like  projection 
bounding  the  face  simply  extends  from  above  one  ear  to  the  other,  its 
outer  border  being  decorated  with  several  small  balls  of  clay.  Behind 
this  visor-like  projection  are  the  usual  horn-like  appendages.  The 
ear  is  unusually  well  marked  and  has  in  its  center  a  large  depression, 
which  may  represent  the  opening  into  the  ear,  or  it  may  be  the  indi- 
cation of  a  place  for  an  ear  ornament. 

In  the  two  specimens  shown  on  PL  LXXV  we  have  this  ribbon- 
like projection  from  the  face  continuing  considerably  below  the  ear 


270         Field  Columbian   Museum — Anthropology,   Vol.   II. 

in  one  specimen,  while  on  the  other  it  reaches  down  on  to  the  shoul- 
der. Each  head  bears  the  usual  complement  of  horn-like  projections 
on  the  back  of  the  head.  In  Fig.  /'  there  is  a  raised  band  lying  just 
between  the  face  and  the  side  appendage,  terminating  in  a  button- 
shaped  object  lying  in  the  region  of  the  ear.  The  beard-like  repre- 
sentation will  also  be  noted  in  this  specimen,  while  below  the  nose 
may  be  made  out  two  slight  incisions,  which  may  represent  tattoo 
marks. 

We  have  in  the  two  specimens  figured  on  PI.  LXXVI,  interesting 
representations  of  heads  having  a  treatment  somewhat  similar  to  that 
just  described.  In  Fig.  a  the  outer  part  of  the  band  has  been  deco- 
rated with  four  ball-shaped  objects,  while  in  Fig.  /^.there  were  only 
two  of  these  objects,  one  of  which  has  disappeared.  Instead  of  the 
usual  treatment  of  the  head,  we  find  in  each  specimen  a  band  about 
one  inch  in  width  projecting  upwards  and  backwards.  Just  what 
these  are  intended  to  represent  cannot  now  be  made  out  as  the 
bands  terminate  at  present  in  a  fracture,  having  been  broken. 

In  the  specimen  in  PI.  LXXVII  we  have  a  treatment  of  the 
head  which  differs  considerably  from  any  already  described.  The  head 
band  is  still  present,  but  only  in  a  very  diminished  form,  consisting  of 
a  slight  ridge  running  across  the  forehead.  From  the  median  part  of 
this  line  extends  backwards  another  ridge  which  has  been  partly 
divided  by  means  of  a  sharp  instrument  when  the  clay  was  still  wet. 
The  nose  in  this  specimen  is  provided  with  a  well  marked  appendage, 
while  the  ear  has  received  a  treatment  which  is  especiall}'  interesting. 
In  the  pinna  are  on  one  side  seven  and  on  the  other  side  nine  little 
clay  pellets  pressed  close  against  the  ear.  These  undoubtedly  repre- 
sent perforations  made  in  the  ear,  which,  during  life,  received  some 
plug-like  ornament. 


HEADS  WITH  SIMPLE  AND  UNDECORATED  TREATMENT. 


From  the  specimen  just  described  we  pass,  by  an  almost  imper- 
ceptible gradation,  to  a  number  of  heads  which  are  interesting  on 
account  both  of  the  simplicity  of  the  treatment  and  of  the  great 
beauty  betrayed  in  the  face  itself.  In  the  two  specimens  represented 
in  PI.  LXXVIII  there  is  no  indication  of  the  head-dress,  while  the 
eyes,   ears,   nose  and  mouth  are  only  faintly  indicated. 

In  specimens  represented  in  PI.  LXXIX  we  have  a  similar  treat- 
ment for  the  head,  but  here  there  is  a  decided  elongation  upwards 
and  backwards  and  the  whole  seems  to  be  surmounted  by  a  helmet 


Fig.  46.     Earthenware  image  Showing  Position  of  Whistles. 


April,  1901.       The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  271 

or  covering  which  vividly  suggests  the  early  Egyptian  head-dress. 
The  treatment  of  the  face  here  is  remarkable  for  its  portrayal  of  re- 
finement. In  Fig.  a  there  is  sufficient  of  the  irnage  to  show  some- 
thing of  its  character.  The  arms  are  treated  in  the  most  conven- 
tionalized manner.  Near  the  center  of  the  breast  may  be  seen  two 
objects  projecting  downward  from  the  inside.  These  are  both 
whistles  which  were  blown  through  a  hole  in  the  back  of  the  head. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  all  of  the  specimens  except  the  one  already 
described,  and  nearly  all  of  the  remaining  heads  to  be  considered  have 
this  hole  in  the  occipital  region,  and  in  every  case  where  we  have  the 
body  of  the  figure  present  we  have  either  one  or  two  whistles.  '  The 
two  figures  under  discussion  are  very  interesting  from  the  fact  that 
both  were  made  in  the  same  mold.  One  of  them  has  been  subjected 
to  a  coat  of  red  paint,  which  on  one  side  has  been  very  much  black- 
ened by  means  of  smoke  and  fire. 

The  specimens  on  PI.  LXXX  have  also  been  made  in  a  mold  and 
in  general  characters  do  not  differ  materially  from  the  two  fragments 
just  described.  Both  are  remarkable  specimens  as  works  of  primi- 
tive art. 

In  PI.  LXXXI  we  have  a  figure  of  unusual  interest,  inasmuch 
as  it  represents  the  upper  portion  of  an  image.  There  is  evidence 
that  this  specimen  was  made  in  a  mold.  The  figure  is  apparently 
that  of  a  woman,  there  being  two  slight  protuberances  which  may  be 
considered  as  representations  of  the  breast.  In  her  hands  and  pass- 
ing up  over  the  back  of  her  shoulder  she  holds  some  club-like  object. 
About  the  neck  is  represented  a  string  of  beads.  At  first  sight  there 
appears  to  be  a  nose  appendage,  but  closer  inspection  shows  this 
rather  to  be  an  imperfection  in  the  mold,  a  portion  of  which  adhered 
to  the  upper  lip. 


GROTESQUE  HEADS. 


In  PI.  LXXXII  are  four  figures,  all  small  in  size.  Fig.  a  consists 
of  the  head  of  an  image  which  probably  did  not  stand  more  than  four 
inches  high.  Portions  of  the  arms  remain  and  the  entire  head.  Over 
the  head  project  four  knob-like  projections,  the  center  one  being  in 
reality  a  whistle  with  the  opening  behind.  The  treatment  of  the 
face  of  this  specimen  is  interesting.  From  the  ears  five  ridges  extend 
up  over  the  eyes  to  a  line  above  the  nose.  These  probably  represent 
facial  incisions.  In  Fig.  b  we  also  have  a  whistle  at  the  back  of  the 
head:  also   two   horn-like  projections,  each   terminating   in   a  knob. 


272         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.    II. 

giving  the  head  and  ears  of  a  jester  of  the  Middle  Ages.  The  nose 
has  a  large  appendage,  while  around  the  forehead,  terminating  at  the 
ears,  is  represented  a  band  or  fillet.  In  Fig.  c  we  have  an  arrange- 
ment similar  to  that  just  described.  The  head  appendages  have  been 
broken  off  midway  their  length.  The  nose  of  this  specimen  is  fear- 
fully distorted  and  apparently  there  was  an  attempt  at  the  ludicrous. 
In  Fig.  d  the  same  effect  has  been  produced,  but  in  this  case  the 
nose  has  been  unusually  shortened. 

In  PI.  LXXXIII  a  number  of  figures  are  shown  differing  in  many 
ways  from  any  described.  Figs,  a  and  b  represent  rather  conven- 
tionalized faces,  which  look  forward  from  the  end  of  a  tube.  Fig.  c 
is  a  crudely  expressed  caricature  of  the  human  face.  The  region  of 
the  forehead  has  been  incised.  In  Fig.  d  a  band  passes  mediallv  up 
over  the  head;  while  from  the  sides  of  the  head  of  Fig.  e  are  lateral 
appendages  hanging  down  below  the  ear. 

In  PI.  LXXXIV  are  two  fragments  of  vessels.  In  Fig.  a  we 
have  a  portion  of  the  face,  one  eye  and  one  ear.  This  fragment  in 
material  is  quite  unlike  the  usual  form  of  pottery  found  on  the  island. 
It  is  very  thick  and  shows  many  fragments  of  pounded  shell.  It  is 
possible  of  course  that  it  was  brought  from  a  distance.  I  know  of 
nothing  like  it  on  the  mainland  of  Ecuador,  but  have  seen  pottery 
from  Cauca  Valley,  Colombia,  which  is  similar  in  composition. 

In  Fig.  b  we  have  only  a  portion  of  the  body  represented.  It 
apparently  was  sitting  on  top  of  some  vessel  resembling  a  typical 
water  bottle  of  the  west  coast. 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  NOSE. 


On  PI.  LXXXV  four  portions  of  the  face  have  been  grouped,  as 
they  show  features  and  peculiarities  not  met  with  in  any  of  the  spec- 
imens so  far  described.  Fig.  a  is  remarkable  for  the  prominent  nose 
and  for  the  nose  appendage,  not  clearly  shown  in  the  illustration. 
In  Fig.  b  the  nose  appendage  is  also  very  clearly  shown,  while  the 
eyes  have  received  a  treatment  which  so  far  has  not  been  encountered. 
In  Fig.  c  we  have  still  another  form  of  the  nose  already  described  in 
previous  examples,  but  here  unusually  well  shown.  It  may  be  noted 
also  that  above  the  nose  are  three  protuberances  similar  in  every 
respect  to  those  found  on  the  figure  first  described.  In  Fig.  d  the  nose 
appendage  is  also  beautifully  marked.  In  the  ear  a  number  of  orna'- 
ments  are  represented. 


April,  igoi.       The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  273 

In  PI.  LXXXVI  two  figures  are  produced,  both  of  which  are  of 
considerable  interest.  Fig.  a  is  remarkable  for  the  representation  of 
the  nose  and  pendant  ornament,  while  Fig.  b  is  interesting  for  its 
beak-like  nose  and  pendant  ornament,  which  terminates  in  a  well 
executed  appendage. 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  EYES. 

In  PI.  LXXXVII  are  grouped  fragments  of  heads  which  show 
certain  peculiarities  in  the  treatment  of  the  eye  not  shown  in  previous 
examples.  In  Fig.  a,  the  eyeball  is  very  well  shown,  the  lid  being 
represented  by  a  little  band  of  clay.  In  Fig.  b  an  elliptical  incision 
has  been  made,  describing  the  boundary  of  the  eye.  Within  this  has 
been  placed  an  elliptical  shaped  mass  of  clay  with  a  central  depression, 
a  method  of  representing  the  eyeball  not  found  except  in  a  feW  other 
specimens  from  this  region.  In  Fig.  c  a  rectangular  shaped  ridge, 
prolonged  downward,  marks  the  iris  of  the  eye.  The  superorbital 
ridge  of  this  specimen  is  unusually  well  indicated.  In  Fig.  </ the  eye 
has  been  formed  by  drawing  out  the  clay  and  then  making  the  cen- 
tral region  by  an  incision  across  the  eyeball  itself.  This  treatment 
of  the  eye  is,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  not  found  in  any  of  the  other 
specimens  from  La  Plata. 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  UPPER  EXTREMITIES. 

In  connection  with  several  of  the  vessels  or  fragments  of  vessels 
already  described,  I  have  spoken  of  a  device  fastened  to  the  arms 
which  probably  represent  amulets. 

On  PI.  LXXXVIII  six  fragments  are  shown,  each  one  of  which 
has  some  special  features  of  interest.  In  Fig.  a  the  arms  are  en- 
circled by  a  small  fillet,  while  the  fingers  are  very  rudely  indicated  by 
means  of  three  deep  incisions  made  in  the  soft  clay.  In  Fig.  b,  in 
which  the  arm  is  represented  as  resting  on  the  leg  near  the  knee, 
there  is  fastened  to  the  upper  side  a  broad  band  bearing  on  its  upper 
surface  six  button-shaped  objects.  This  form  of  arm-band  is  one  of 
the  most  common.  In  Fig.  c  the  arm  bears  on  its  upper  surface  six 
cup-shaped  objects  exactly  similar  to  those  described  above  as  form- 
ing ear  ornaments.  Fig.  d  is  interesting  inasmuch  as,  in  addition  to 
five  small  bands  which  encircle  the  arm,  there  has  been  an  attempt 
to  indicate  the  position  of  the  thumb,  there  being  also  five  additional 


274         Field  Columbian   Museum— Anthropology,  Vol.    II. 

fingers.  Fig.  e  bears  on  the  arm,  as  ornaments,  two  rounded  emi- 
nences. These  are  represented  as  attached  to  the  wrist  just  above 
the  fingers,  which  are  represented  as  unusually  long.  In  Fig. /we 
have  a  very  interesting  specimen  and  the  only  one  of  its  kind  found 
at  La  Plata.  It  represents  a  portion  of  the  dress  of  some  hollow 
figure,  showing  the  hand  resting  on  the  leg,  the  upper  arm  itself,  as 
well  as  the  breast,  being  covered  with  something  which  may  be  con- 
sidered a  mantle.  This  is  decorated  with  a  number  of  small,  round 
eminences. 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  LOWER  EXTREMITIES. 


In  a  large  majority  of  the  vessels  the  legs  are  represented  as 
extending  out  in  front  of  a  sitting  body  in  a  circular  form  and  in  many 
cases  highly  conventionalized.  A  few  fragments  of  feet,  however, 
were  found  in  which  the  figure  apparently  was  represented  as  in  a 
standing  posture.  In  Fig.  a,  PI.  LXXXIX,  we  have  represented  a 
part  of  feet  which  from  their  shape  could  hardly  permit  of  a  standing 
figure.  The  toes  are  indicated  by  means  of  six  incisions  made  with 
some  sharp  instrument.  Down  over  the  knee  hangs  a  kilt-like  repre- 
sentation, its  lower  edge  being  bordered  with  numerous  small  round 
pellets  which  perhaps  represent  beads.  In  Fig.  b  we  have  two  boot- 
shaped  objects.  The  figure  of  which  they  formed  part  was  plainly 
intended  to  stand  on  its  feet.  Each  one  of  the  boots  is  encircled  by 
two  parallel,  incised  bands.  Within  are  a  number  of  rounded  pro- 
jections, the  object  of  which  I  am  not  able  to  surmise. 

On  PI.  XC  are  represented  four  feet  differing  in  character  from 
those  described.  Fig.  a  represents  a  rudely  fashioned  foot  with  a 
well-defined  heel  and  five  fairly  well  made  toes.  This  specimen,  it 
may  be  noted,  is  solid,  an  unusual  treatment  for  the  figures  found  on 
the  island.  Fig.  b  is  unusually  well  modeled  and  has  been  treated 
to  a  coat  of  red  paint.  Both  on  the  ankle  and  on  the  front  of  the  leg 
are  represented  two  parallel  ridges  at  a  distance  of  one  and  one- 
quarter  inches  apart,  which  have  been  incised  at  short  intervals. 
Fig.  c  is  boot-shaped,  there  being  no  indication  whatsoever  of  the 
toes.  Just  above  the  foot  are  four  flattened  ornaments.  Fig.  ^  is 
also  the  foot  of  a  figure  which  was  probably  not  made  hollow.  Four 
toes  are  roughly  indicated. 

On  PI.  XCI  is  a  fragment  of  some  unusually  large  image.  This 
probably  represented   a   female,    inasmuch   as  one  of  the  breasts    is 


April,  1901.       The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  275 

presented  in  a  realistic  manner.      This  is  the  only  well-defined  indi- 
cation of  sex  encountered  in  the  pottery  of  the  island. 


OBJECTS  FOUND  IN  THE  HANDS  OF  THE  IMAGES. 


Objects  found  in  the  hands  of  the  images  are  few  in  number. 
On  PI.  XCII,  Fig.  a,  is  shown  a  small  seated  figure  with  a  representa- 
tion of  a  bird  resting  on  the  left  arm.  Owing  to  the  indication  of 
the  mammary  glands  here,  it  is  possible  that  this  was  intended  for  a 
female  figure.  It  is  interesting  to  note  also  that  projecting  out  over 
very  short  legs  and  extending  almost  to  the  feet,  is  represented  an 
apron-like  garment.  The  second  figure  of  this  plate  is  a  small  frag- 
ment of  a  figure  not  unlike  that  just  described.  A  rudely  modeled 
bird  is  represented  as  resting  on  the  right  arm. 

On  PI.  XCIII  are  fragments  of  figures  consisting  of  three  arms 
and  a  small  detached  earthenware  vessel.  Inasmuch  as  the  vessels 
here  presented  are  all  the  same,  it  is  possible  to  believe  that  we 
have  present  the  form  usually  employed  for  water  on  the  island.  It 
is  to  be  remarked,  however,  that  no  fragments  of  vessels  such  as 
these  were  found. 

On  PI.  XCI V,  Fig.  a,  we  have  a  very  interesting  fragment  of  what 
was  probably  a  very  large  image.  Rudely  fashioned  hands  are 
represented  as  extending  out  in  front  of  the  body,  bearing  on  them  a 
small  solidly  made  human  image,  measuring  five  inches  in  length. 
From  the  position  of  the  arms  of  this  figure,  the  small  image,  which 
is  represented  as  being  carried,  must  have  been  pressed  up  close 
against  the  breast.  In  Figs,  b  and  c  are  represented  two  similar  frag- 
ments, in  which  a  human  image  is  being  carried.  In  Fig.  b  we  have 
the  left  hand  bearing  the  head  of  a  small  image,  the  body  of  which 
has  been  broken  off  just  below  the  neck.  In  Fig.  c  the  treatment  is 
somewhat  different.  The  arms  are  represented  as  resting  on  the  legs 
curved  in  front  of  the  body.  The  hands  hold  a  small  image  which 
like  the  others  is  solid.  There  is  nothing  in  the  treatment  of  the 
head-dress  in  this  or  the  figures  just  mentioned,  or  in  the  treatment 
of  the  parts  of  the  body  in  general,  to  lead  to  the  belief  that  the 
attempt  was  made,  in  these  carried  figures,  to  represent  children. 

On  PI.  XCV  are  four  small  images  which  from  their  similarity  to 
those  just  described,  may  originally  have  been  placed  in  the  hands  of 
some  of  the  larger  figures.  In  Fig.  f>  of  this  plate  the  head  is  drawn 
unusuall}'  large,  the  eyes  are  represented  as  closed,  the  hands  are 
only  faintly  represented,  while  the  feet  are  not  indicated,  the  region 
of  the  feet  being  perforated,  as  if  for  suspension. 


276         Field   Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.    II. 
SERPENT  HEAD-DRESSES. 

In  addition  to  the  various  forms  of  head-dress  which  have  already 
been  described,  there  are  several  which  from  their  great  interest 
deserve  special  consideration.  In  PI.  XCVI  we  have  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  fragments  of  heads  found  at  La  Plata.  There  is  repre- 
sented the  upper  left-hand  portion  of  the  head.  The  eye  has  received 
an  unusual  treatment.  The  upper  lid  is  prolonged  to  an  extent  of 
half  an  inch  out  over  the  eye,  and  the  edge  of  the  lid  has  received 
two  small  rounded  pellet  decorations  at  the  extreme  sides.  Over  the 
head  is  a  broad  ribbon-like  band  passing  from  the  region  of  the  ear 
up  on  the  forehead  above  the  eye;  this  has  a  serrated  edge.  On  the 
extremities  of  the  serrations  there  are  round  masses,  w^hile  the  front 
surface  has  been  decorated  by  lines  and  perforated  circles.  The 
band  next  the  face  bears  a  band  of  clay,  terminating  just  in  front  of 
the  ear  in  a  spiral  and  over  the  forehead  in  the  open  mouth,  with  the 
projectile  fangs  of  a  serpent.  On  the  lower  side  of  this  band  are  two 
reptilian  feet.  A  close  inspection  however,  of  the  broad  lateral 
appendage  makes  it  evident  that  the  band  itself  is  a  component  part 
of  the  serpent,  there  being  an  eye  just  above  the  mouth,  while  the 
band  itself  terminates  in  a  double  nostril.  In  the  serration  of  the 
band  we  may  have  a  representation  of  the  plumed  serpent  common 
in  Yucatan  and  other  regions  of  Central  and  South  America. 

In  PI.  XCVII  we  have  additional  specimens  in  which  the  con- 
ventionalized serpent  appears,  the  form  here  being  rather  suggested 
than  represented  in  detail.  A  band  in  both  specimens  passes  from 
the  ear  up  over  the  forehead  and  down  on  the  other  side.  The  bands 
project  out  over  the  side  of  the  face  as  in  the  above  specimen,  and  as 
in  the  preceding  specimen,  they  are  decorated  with  incised  lines. 
In  both  specimens  the  projection  above  the  e3'e  bears  three  rounded 
pellets. 

In  PI.  XCVIII  are  three  fragments  all  representing  small  por- 
tions of  the  right  side  of  the  body.  In  Fig.  b  the  arm  rests  on  the 
curved  legs,  while  just  over  the  shoulder  appears  the  conventionalized 
serpent's  head.  In  Fig.  c  only  a  portion  of  the  shoulder  is  repre- 
sented; this  also  bears  a  serpent's  head.  Fig.  a  must  have  been  a 
very  large  image;  also  like  the  other  two  specimens,  it  bears  a  con- 
ventionalized serpent's  head. 

In  PI.  XCIX  we  have  four  additional  representations  of  the 
heads  of  serpents.  In  Fig.  a  we  have  a  fragment  possibly  from  some 
very  large  image.  The  head  in  this  specimen  as  represented  is  un- 
usually large,  with  a  bifurcated  nostril   and  large  eyes.      The  body  is 


April,  igoi.        The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  277 

represented  as  serrated  on  its  upper  border.  In  Fig.  b  there  is  the 
highly  conventionalized  head  of  the  serpent  represented  with  fangs 
still  more  rudely  conceived.  Fig.  c  is  that  of  a  fragment  of  pottery 
showing  a  thin  reptile-like  creature,  with  a  large  head  similar  to  the 
one  just  described.  Fig.  d  consists  of  a  head,  triangular  in  shape, 
with  a  wide  grinning  mouth,  two  clearly  defined  nostrils  separated 
by  a  deep  incision,  with  eyes  placed  on  the  top  of  the  head. 


ANIMAL  FORMS. 

In  addition  to  the  representations  of  serpents  just  mentioned,  a 
few  other  animals  were  found.  On  PI.  C  are  shown  four  representa- 
tions of  an  animal  resembling  a  fox.  The  body  is  long  and  tubular 
and  is  resting  on  short  conventionalized  legs.  The  heads  in  Figs,  a 
and  b  are  rather  carefully  drawn;  both  of  them,  however,  are  devoid 
of  eyes.  In  Fig.  c  it  is  possible  that  there  has  been  an  attempt  to 
represent  a  caricature  of  the  human  face.  In  Fig.  ^/ we  have  two 
animal  heads,  not  unlike  those  of  a  fox,  extending  out  from  a  hollow 
cylinder.  In  the  heads  of  all  the  animals  just  described  are  well 
made  whistles. 

BIRD  FORMS. 

In  PI.  CI  are  represented  such  few  bird  forms  as  were  found  at 
La  Plata.  Fig.  a  represents  a  small  image  of  an  owl,  made  with 
considerable  care.  The  feather  markings  have  been  made  with  great 
pains,  but  do  not  appear  to  advantage  in  the  illustration.  In  Fig.  b 
we  have  represented  the  head  of  some  young  bird,  possibly  that  of  a 
duck.  Within  the  head  is  a  whistle.  Fig.  c  also  represents  a  bird 
and  is  a  rather  spirited  piece  of  modeling.  The  wings  are  repre- 
sented at  the  back  as  they  may  be  seen  in  the  young  bird  just  about 
to  attempt  to  fly.  In  Fig.  (^/ we  have  perhaps  a  combination  of  bird  and 
human  form.  In  front  of  a  cylindrical-shaped  object  is  represented, 
probably,  the  outstretched  form  of  a  man.  Looking  at  the  specimen 
from  above,  the  wings  and  bill  of  the  bird  can  be  clearly  distinguished. 

MISCELLANEOUS   OBJECTS  OF  POTTERY. 


As  has  been  stated,  nearly  all  the  fragments  of  pottery  found  on 
the  island  were  images  or  portions  of  images  either  of  man  or  of 
animal   forms,  but   six  specimens   in   all  being  found  which   did  not 


278         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,   Vol.   II. 

have  their  origin  in  the  above  conception.  These  are  all  grouped 
together  on  PI.  CII.  In  Fig.  a  we  have  a  small  dish-shaped  vessel. 
This  was  painted  red  and  showed  evidence  of  having  been  subjected 
to  great  heat.  Fig.  /^  is  a  fragment,  probably  of  a  water  bottle,  a 
portion  of  the  globular  surface  being  represented,  as  well  as  a  small 
portion  of  the  neck.  This  fragment  is  marked  with  a  number  of  deep 
incisions.  In  Fig.  c  we  have  a  small  fragment  of  the  edge  or  rim  of 
what  must  have  been  a  very  large  vessel.  This  is  decorated  with 
numerous  rows  of  parallel  punctures  made  with  a  sharp-pointed 
instrument.  Fig.  d  may  represent  either  a  projection  which  origi- 
nally served  as  an  ornament  on  the  body  of  some  figure,  or  it  may  be, 
as  it  appears,  a  representation  of  some  spiral  fossil  form.  Figs,  e  and 
/  are  portions  of  small  objects  having  short  handles  at  one  end,  and 
hollow  globular  surfaces  at  the  other,  and  near  the  center  a  slight 
swelling  which  has  been  perforated  from  side  to  side.  This  swelling 
is  restricted  both  from  the  handle  and  the  globular  head  by  means  of 
an  incision.      These  probably  were  originally  diminutive  rattles. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS   CONCERNING  THE  POTTERY. 


The  most  striking  fact  brought  out  in  a  survey  of  the  pottery  as 
a  whole  is  the  almost  total  absence  of  vessels  or  fragments  of  vessels 
having  utilitarian  character.  Practically  all  of  the  potter}^  may  be 
said  to  be  of  the  nature  of  images  of  the  human  form,  ranging  in 
height  from  six  to  possibly  twenty  inches.  Nearly  all  of  these  images 
have  secreted  within  them,  either  in  the  head  or  within  the  breast, 
one  or  two  whistles.  The  workmanship  in  the  majority  of  the  images 
was  hurried,  and  in  many  cases  crude,  but  at  the  same  time  there  is 
evidence  of  great  ability  on  the  part  of  the  workmen  to  produce 
desired  forms  with  great  ease  and  rapidity.  The  range  of  expression, 
as  seen  in  the  faces  of  the  images  for  example,  is  extremely  varied 
and  interesting,  and  yet  in  the  majority  of  the  cases  the  expression 
has  been  brought  about  without  showing  evidence  of  labored  effort. 
The  faces  themselves  vary  in  character  from  portrayals  of  excessive 
beauty  to  strange  and  grotesque  forms.  In  many  cases  the  counte- 
nance is  portrayed  as  decidedly  hideous  and  repulsive.  Not  the  least 
interesting  feature  of  the  pottery  is  the  presence  of  what  we  may  call 
the  plumed  serpent,  and  in  certain  other  examples  of  highly  conven- 
tionalized serpents'  heads.  Of  interest  also  is  the  variety  of  nose 
ornaments  and  ear  decorations  which  are  portrayed.  The  ability  of 
the  potters  to  produce  different  forms  of  eyes,  each  one  expressive  of 


April,  1901.       The  Island  of  La  Plata — Dorsey.  279 

some  phase  of  character,  cannot  be  too  highly  admired.  The  many 
forms  of  arm  and  leg-bands  and  ornaments,  revealed  in  the  fragments 
of  vessels,  as  well  as  the  many  ways  of  fashioning  the  arms  and  feet 
are  also  worthy  of  mention. 


GENERAL    CONCLUSIONS. 


It  seems  probable  that  we  have  on  the  island  of  La  Plata 
evidence,  first,  of  the  long  occupation  by  a  people  who  probably 
resorted  here  during  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  perhaps  for  the 
celebration  of  religious  rites.  In  no  other  way  can  I  account  for  the 
enormous  accumulation  of  ashes  and  charcoal  which  was  revealed  in 
our  excavations  at  the  foot  of  the  triangle,  and  in  no  other  way  can  I 
account  for  the  great  quantities  of  engraved  stones  and  of  the 
thousands  of  fragments  of  earthenware  images,  which,  so  far  as  I 
can  determine,  did  not  serve  a  utilitarian  purpose.  That  the  island 
was  not  a  place  of  permanent  occupancy  is  shown,  I  think,  from  the 
absence  of  objects  representing  every-day  phases  of  domestic  life, 
such  as  we  might  naturally  expect  to  find.  One  statement  that  I 
have  been  able  to  find  after  careful  examination  of  the  early  writers 
on  the  west  coast  of  South  America  is  in  this  connection  of  unusual 
interest.  Cieza  de  Leon,  after  speaking  of  certain  events  on  the 
mainland,  says  : 

"  In  another  small  island,  at  no  great  distance,  the  natives  say 
that  in  the  time  of  their  ancestors  there  was  a  temple  or  Huaca, 
where  they  also  worshiped  their  gods  and  performed  sacrifices. 
Round  the  temple  they  had  quantities  of  gold,  silver,  and  other 
valuable  things,  such  as  woolen  clothes  and  jewels,  which  had  been 
offered  up  at  different  times." 

This,  I  believe,  refers  to  the  island  of  La  Plata  and  perhaps 
solves  the  problem  as  to  the  presence  on  the  island  of  the  pottery 
images.  Concerning  the  engraved  stones,  I  am  still,  after  much 
consideration,  unable  to  offer  any  clew  as  to  their  probable  use.  The 
question  that  they  might  have  entered  into  certain  games  has  been 
carefully  considered,  but  they  show  practically  no  marks  of  usage. 
There  is  such  an  enormous  range  of  variation  in  the  size,  character, 
etc.,  of  these  stones  that  it  is  hard  to  conceive  of  any  game  or  series 
of  games  in  which  they  might  have  been  used.  The  second  conclu- 
sion which,  I  think,  may  safely  be  made  is  that  the  graves  discovered 
by  General  Flores  and  myself  in  the  explored  triangle,  represent 
intrusive   burials.      Furthermore,  I   am  inclined   to   believe   that  the 


28o         Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.   II. 

graves  were  not  made  b}'  the  people  on  the  mainland,  who  resorted 
to  the  island  for  ceremonial  purposes  and  who  practiced  rites  involving 
great  fires  for  many  generations,  but  rather  by  some  stray  party  from 
the  conquering  bands  of  Inca  warriors,  who,  previous  to  the  Spanish 
conquest  of  South  America,  had  extended  their  operations  north  of 
Peru.  During  these  operations  the  Quichuas,  as  is  well  known,  made 
excursions  to  the  coast  of  Ecuador  and  at  the  time  of  its  occupancy  by 
the  Spanish  they  practically  controlled  the  banks  of  the  Guayaquil  river 
to  the  ocean.  That  parties  of  the  Quichuas  also  descended  to  the  coast 
further  north  in  Ecuador  is  entirely  probable. 

That  the  time  expended  in  excavation  on  the  island  was  quite 
inadequate  to  exhaust  the  possibilities  of  archaeological  discovery 
there  is  no  doubt,  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  some  investiga- 
tor may  take  up  the  work  of  solving  some  of  the  interesting  problems 
herewith  presented.  For  such  investigation,  I  believe,  interesting 
results  would  be  the  reward. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    XL. 


Gold  and  Silver  Images. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  PL.  XLI. 


Images  of  Gold,  Stone  and  Bronze. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   XLII. 


Earthenware  Vessel  from  Grave. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LVII. 


Perforated  and  Engraved  Stones. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  PL.  LIX, 


Perforated  Stone  Beads. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM, 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  PL.  LX. 


^^^^^B:-  ^'-'>'<?'v.": 

■■^igiaB^jjj^H 

II          "*^^^B 

^^^^^^B^#$  Sot    V>.  •     1  j^     jk'^,  -<^ 

^^^^^^^^^^^VT^          iiim^^^^^« 

v^      ^                 ^^^B'-"        ■  ^^^1 

^^^^^^^^^^^B^B  % 

^..^^iji^  ^^hI^I 

■HHtv, ''  ^    .        ^^H 

^B_vi£iiii_^ 

•  ___^i^B_^B 

Mii^H^H^^^H^H 

Perforated  Stone  Beads. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LX.I. 


Rough  Mass  of  Serpentine. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXIII. 


Rough  Mass  of  Green  Marble. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXIV. 


Beads  of  Pagodite  and  Turquoise. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXV. 


Beads  of  LapiS  Lazull 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXVI. 


Beads  of  Agalmatolite. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXVIl. 


a.  Small  Stone  Animal,    b.  Cone-Shaped  Stone. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXIX. 


Two  Earthenware  Images. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXX. 


Two  Earthenware  Images. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXI. 


Image,  No  Head  Covering. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXII. 


Head  of  Image,  Pyramidal  Projections. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM.  ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXIII. 


a.  Head  of  Image,    b.  Body  of  Image. 
Head  and  Body  of  Image,  Pyramidal  Projections, 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXIV. 


Head  of  Image. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM.  ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXVI. 


Heads  of  Images,  Face  Bounded  by  Broad  Bands. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXVII. 


Head  of  Image,  Ear  Ornamentation. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM.  ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXVIII. 


Heads  of  Images. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM.  ANTHROPOLOGY,   PL.    LXXIX. 


Heads  of  Images 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM, 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXX. 


Heads  of  Images. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXI, 


Portion  of  Female  Image  Holding  Club. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXII. 


Grotesque  Heads. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXIII. 


Grotesque  Heads. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXiV. 


Fragments  of  Vessels. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXV. 


Fragments  Showing  Treatment  of  the  Nose. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,     PL.    LXXXVI. 


Specimens  Showing  Treatment  of  the  Nose. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXVII. 


Fragments  of  Images  Showing  Treatment  of  the  Eyes. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    LXXXIX. 


Specimens  Showing  Treatment  of  Lower  Extremities. 


J 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    IVIUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    XCII. 


Images  with  a  Bird  Resting  on  the  Arm. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   XCIII. 


Fragments,  with  Arms  Holding  Small  Jars. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   XCIV, 


Fragments  of  Images  Showing  Arms  Holding  Small  Image. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    XCV. 


Small  Images. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   XCVI. 


Fragment  of  Image  Showing  Serpent  Head  Dress. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,   PL.   XCVII. 


Fragments  of  Heads  Bearing  Conventionalized  Serpents'  Heads. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    XCVIII. 


Fragments  of  Bodies  Bearing  Conventionalized  Serpents'  Heads. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   XCIX. 


Fragments  Bearing  Conventionalized  Serpents'  Heads. 


FIELD    COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.    C. 


Fragments  Representing  Conventionalized  Quadrupeds. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   Cl. 


Bird  Forms. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    PL.   Cll. 


c  ^     w 


Miscellaneous  Objects  of  Pottery. 


